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Berlin pushes for terror listing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards

by AI | 13.Jan 2026 | Europe in brief AI

Germany is campaigning in Brussels for the Iranian Revolutionary Guard to be placed on the terror list. Will the current situation in Tehran bring the necessary unanimity?

An Iranian unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) waves an Iranian flag during an anti-Israeli rally at Islamic Revolution Square. Photo: Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Brussels (dpa) – The situation in Iran is fueling the discussion in the EU about a possible classification of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. A spokesperson for the German federal government said in Berlin that Germany was working to achieve agreement on this. “We are in favor of listing the Revolutionary Guards under the EU anti-terror sanctions regime,” he emphasized.

The EU has been debating a possible classification of the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization for years. Until recently, however, several member states had concerns, and since the decision has to be taken unanimously, no corresponding resolution was possible. In view of the renewed brutal suppression of protests in Iran, however, the pressure on the skeptics is now increasing. The Revolutionary Guards are accused of playing a key role in this, because as elite forces they are also responsible for preventing coup attempts.

Düsseldorf ruling could be the basis

According to an analysis by the legal service of the Council of the EU, a ruling by the Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf from 2023 could serve as the basis for listing the Revolutionary Guards. In that judgment, it was established that a state Iranian body had commissioned an attempted arson attack on a synagogue in Bochum. At the time, a German-Iranian was convicted of conspiracy to commit serious arson and attempted arson.

Before the ruling was analyzed by the legal service, EU bodies had always emphasized that a terrorist listing of the elite forces was currently not legally possible, because it required a national court decision or a prohibition order from an administrative authority. There had also been reservations at the time because of fears that such a decision could have a negative impact on negotiations on the Iranian nuclear program.

Listing would be mainly a symbolic step

A spokesperson for the EU Commission again pointed out on Monday that listing the Guards as terrorists would be mainly a symbolic step. The reason is that there are already EU sanctions against them – among other things to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. For a long time now, all their assets held in the EU have had to be frozen and no economic resources may be made available to the Guards. (January 12)